Voting-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. P. H. GILBERT. VOTING MACHINE. No.536,466. Patented Mar 26, 1895.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. H. GILBERT. VOTING MACHINE. No. 536,466. Patented Mar. 26, 1895.

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WITNESSES: j? INVENTOH tically on the line l1 of Fig. 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. GILBERT, OF RIDGEFIELD, WVASHINGTON.

VOTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 536,466, dated March26, 1895.

Application filed May 19, 1894. Serial No. 511.819. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. GILBERT, of Ridgefield, in the county ofClarke and State of Washington, have invented a new and ImprovedVoting-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to a machine or apparatus adapted for use at thepolls or in. any place where votes are to be cast, and the object of theinvention is to provide a machine or apparatus durable and economic inits construction through the medium of which the voter may record a votein such a manner that the following voter will not be able to discoverthe manner in which, or the names of the candidates for whom, hispredecessor has voted, and to so construct the machine that an ignorantperson may be able to vote a prescribed ticket in its entirety, withoutmaking a mistake. Another object of the invention is to provide a meanswhereby when the voter has voted, an alarm may be sounded by the voterto proclaim that fact, and whereby the judge of elections, the inspectoror other person in authority may place the material upon which the votesare recorded in proper position to receive the record of the next vote,without being able to see the record of the votejust cast, and likewiseto provide a means whereby duplicates of the votes cast may be made, andwhereby one of the records may be removed from the machine withoutdisturbing or obtaining access to the duplicate record which will remainin the body of the machine for polling purposes.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar figures and letters of referenceindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure l is a plan view of the machine with the top entirely removed, ora section prac- Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken essentiallyon the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section taken on the line33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a partial longitudinal section through thepunching bars and the concealing slide used in connection therewith, thesaid section being taken essentially on the line 44 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 isa plan view of that portion of the punching bars and the concealingslide shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the machine orapparatus, the top being in place. Fig. 7 is an end View of the machine;and Fig. 8 is a detail View of the punch employed in connection with themachine.

The body of the machine consists of a casing A, which may be given anydesired shape, but it is usually made'rectaugular and of box-likeconstruction. The said body or casing is adapted to be closed at the topby a cover B, and this cover is usually made in two sections, a mainsection 10 and a small section 11, the smaller section being located atone end of the cover, and it is in hinged connection with the mainsection.

The main section is preferably attached to the casing or bodyindependent of the smaller or hinged section 11, and is secured in suchmanner that said main section may be removed when necessary; and whenthe ma chine is in use the attaching devices employed to secure the mainsection of the cover to the body are preferably covered with aconcealing material, which material may bear a certain signature ordesign in order that the main portion of the cover can not be removedfrom the body Without indicating that such a removal has been made; orcan not be tampered with without the fact being made known.

The hinged section 10 of the cover is provided with a latch head 12,adapted to extend downward within the body of the casing, and islikewise adapted for engagement with a keeper 13, formed upon the upperedge of a locking plate 14, which plate is pivoted upon one end wall ofthe body or casing at the lower portion near one end as shown at a inFig. 7; and the plate is adapted to rock upon its pivot, and guided bypassing a pin ct through a slot a made in the plate, preferably aboveits pivot. The locking plate is made to extend in direction of one sideof the box or casing, and at that point is provided with a lip 14, whichextends at an angle from the plate, or in direction of the opposite endof the casing. The keeper 13 of the locking plate is normally held inposition for locking engagement with the latch 12 of the cover by meansof a spring 15, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7.

The box or casing is divided practically into two compartments by atransverse partition 16, whereby a main compartment 0 is formed, coveredby the main section of the cover, and a smaller end compartment 0 isformed covered by the hinged section 11 of the cover. The main sectionof the cover is provided with an opening 16, preferably madetransversely therein; and the walls of this opening are made to taperdownwardly, as shown best in Fig. 3; and the tapered walls are usuallycovered by a metal plate 17, while one of the walls is provided withslide-ways in its ends adapted to receive a removable plate 18, whichmay be designated a dial, since upon this platethe names of the variouscandidates, together with the names of the ofices they have beennominated to fill, are produced in any approved manner-as for example,when two parties are in the field, Democratic and Republican, the namesof the Democrats will be grouped together and will be printed forexample in one color, while the Republican candidates will follow,grouped together and printed in a different color; so that a voter, nomatter how ignorant, will be enabled to vote the complete Democratic orRepublican ticket by simply knowing the color in which the names areproduced.

The record of the votes is made through the medium of a punch D of anyapproved construction, one of which is shown in Fig. 8, the punch beingutilized to produce apertures 19 of predetermined contour in one or moresheets or ribbons 20 of paper or other material. Preferably two ribbonsare wound upon a distributing roller 21, said roller being journaled inthe main compartment 0 of the box or casing at or near the outer end ofsaid compartment, and the ends of the sheets may be secured to the saidroller in any approved manner. Preferably, however, the roller isprovided with a longitudinal groove 22, into which the ribbons or sheetsare passed, and a pin 23 is then made to press the sheets within thegroove, the pin being held stationary yet removably attached to theroller.

In addition to the distributing roller when two or duplicate sheets ofribbon are employed, two receiving rollers designated respectively as 24and 25 are likewise used, these rollers being located one in each of thecompartments 0 and O at opposite sides of the partition 16; and one ofthe sheets or tapes 20 is secured to each of said rollers, usually inthe manner described in connection with the distributing roller. Thereceiving rollers 24 and 25 are preferably provided at their right-handends each with a gear 26, firmly attached thereto, and the receivingrollers are prevented from having end movement through the medium oflatches 27, the said latches consisting of hook-like plates as shown inFig. 2, pivoted to the inner left-hand side of the casing and adapted toengage with the left-hand end of the rollers, fitting over theirtrunnions. l/Vhen these latches are raised or carried out of engagementwith the receiving rollers, the rollers may be moved endwisesufficiently to disengage the righthand trunnions from their bearings inthe right-hand side of the casing or body of the machine.

Two punch bars 28 and 29 are located one above the other, beingseparated at their ends by spacing blocks 30, the said punch bars beingprovided with vertically aligning apertures 31. These punch bars aresecured to the upper side edges of the box or casing, extendtransversely across the same, and occupy a position which will bringthem immediately beneath the opening 16 in the main section of the coverand at which the names of the candidates appear. The punch bars are ofmetal, and their apertures are preferably circular, the preferred punchemployed beinga circular one. The lower or under punch bar 28 isprovided with downwardly extending flanges 28, which flanges haveattached thereto a receiving bar 32,the said bar being dished orprovided with a chamber to receive the particles punched from the stripsor tapes 20; and the upper punch bar, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, isprovided with slide-ways 25) at each side edge, extending over its uppersurface, the said slide-ways being adapted to receive a slide 33,provided with apertures 34, corresponding in number and location tothose in the punch bars. The apertures in the slide are normally held inregistry with the apertures in the punch bar through the medium of aspring 35, which is secured to one of the punch bars and extends downthrough longitudinal slots 36 produced in the righthand end of bothbars, the spring being like wise secured to a stud 37 attached to theslide, which stud likewise extends downward through the slots 36, thestud being prevented from moving outward beyond a predetermined point byengaging with a wedge key 38, which key is held to slide freely in abearing 39, formed upon the lower punch bar, as shown in Fig. 4, the keybeing held to slide in engagement with the stud 37. The key is providedat both of its ends with a downwardly extending arm, the outer arm beingdesignated as 38 and the inner arm as 38 and when the key is pushedinward, bringing its wider portion between the stud 37 and bearing 39,the slide will have been moved to such an extent as to carry itsapertures out of registry with those in the punch bars, thus completelyconcealing the latter apertures and whatever punctures may be in thesheets or tapes 20 beneath the slide. Thus I preferably denominate theslide as a concealing slide, and it may here be remarked that both ofthe tapes or sheets 20 in passing from the distributing roller to theirreceiving rollers, pass freely between the two punch bars.

The wedge key 38, is manipulated through the medium of a disk 40provided with acrank arm 41, or an extension from its periphery, themovement of the disk in one direction being limited by a stop 42. Thedisk is turned from the exterior of the box or casing through the mediumof a knob 43, or its equivalent connected with the disk, and as the diskis revolved in one direction the wedge key is forced inward and. incontact with a hammer plate 44, which plate is of essentially angularconstruction, its upper surface being inclined; and the plate is pivotedat its contracted end and is provided with a guide slot 44 receiving ascrew 45, which enters the side of the box. The hammer plate is heldnormally in an upper position, that is, with the pin or screw 45 at thelower end of the slot 44, through the medium of a spring 46; and at theupper inclined portion of the plate a flange 47 is produced, the upperinner edge of which flange is beveled as shown at 48 in Fig.1. Thehammer plate at its inner lower end has attached thereto a hammer 49,the attachment being preferably a pivotal one, and the said hammer isadapted for engagement with a bell 50, sounding an alarm after thehammer plate has been depressed and is suddenly released.

A look 51 is located in the right-hand side of the box or casing infront of the hammer plate; and the said lock is provided with a gear 52,adapted to engage the toothed or racked surface of a slide 53, whichslide is provided with a head 54, preferably transversely beveled andlocated at the inner end of the slide facing the hammer plate; and atthe opposite or outer end of the said slide it is provided with a lug55, adapted to engage with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 56, whichratchet wheel is prevented from turning in any but one direction throughthe medium of a pawl 57. The ratchet wheel has secured to its inner facea pinion 58, and this pinion meshes with the gears 26 of the tworeceiving rollers 24 and 25.

A spring 59, is usually employed to engage with the tape which is woundon the distributing roller 21, as shown in Fig. 2; and the latch plate14, is manipulated through the medium of a push button 60, located atone end of the casing, whereby the lip 14 of that plate may be carriedin engagement with the gear of the end receiving roller. It will beunderstood that the push bars and the concealing slide are provided witha number of apertures corresponding to the number of candidates to bevoted for, and that the tapes or sheets 20 may be difierently colored torepresent different political parties.

In operation the registers are prepared at headquarters of the city orcounty, the main cover being fastened by screws at each side, and ifconsidered necessary sealed as heretofore stated, by pasting thin stripsof paper over the screws, said strips of paper containing an autographfor example, and the second lid is then closed by means of the latchdevice. At the polls the register or machine is placed in a manner to beprivate. The voter will enter the apartment where the machine is placedand will punch the paper through the holes in the punch bar beneath thename of each candidate which is his choice. Having done this the knob 43is turned, whereupon the disk 40 through the medium of its crank arm 41will push forward the key 38, and in so doing will carry the solidportion of the concealing slide over the apertures in the punch bar,thus concealing the punctures made in the paper; and as the key passesover the hammer plate, riding uponitsinclined surface, it will depressthe'plate, and in passing beyond it will permit the plate to rise andsound an alarm. The voter having finished, leaves the room and a judgeor overseer of elections thereupon enters the apartment, and with asuitable key turns the lock 51, which is in the nature of a springlatch, being spring-controlled, and in operating the lock the judge oroverseer will cause the slide 53 to travel in the direction of the key38, and the head of the slide will force the hammer plate inward pastthat plate, and will carry with it the key 38, thus throwing the key toits normal position and permitting the concealing slide to disclose theapertures in the punch bar. At the same time as the slide 53 movesforward the lug 55 at the outer end thereof will operate upon theratchet wheel 56 in a manner to cause the pinion 58 to turn thereceiving rollers 24 and 25 a sufficient distance to carry the puncturesjust made between the line of apertures in the push bars and the sidemargin thereof, the apertures still remaining concealed; and as thejudge removes the key from the lock 51 the slide 53 will have beencarried back to its normal position, and will have passed over thehammer plate, depressing the same, and upon leaving the hammer platethelatter sounds an alarm. In this manner the voting is continued, andthe punctures are not visible to any one but the person making them.Consequently, no one is able to tell how another has voted if the personvoting properly manipulates the machine.

To open the case the lock must be manipulated and the button 60 in therear end pressed to an engagement with the gear of a receiving roller;whereupon, by manipulating the slide 53 through the medium of the key,and turning the receiving roller thereby, the gear of the roller willcompress the lip 14 of the locking plate 14, and will carry the keeper13 out of engagement with the latch. The slide 53 is now manipulated ina manner to cause any surplus paper to pass from the distributing rolleron to the proper receiving rollers. This having been accomplished, thelatch 27 at one end of the outer receiving roller is lifted, and theroller may be removed. The cover is again locked, and the box with itscontained duplicate or tally strip may be passed to the proper officer.

When counting the votes, the person in charge will begin at one side andcount the ICC punctures made for each successive candidate. This isconveniently done by laying the sheet flat and using a straight'edge(lengthwise ofthe paper) along theline being counted.

Having thus described my invention, I

v claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a votingmachine or register, a sheet or tape, punch bars between which the sheetor tape passes, the said punch bars being provided with aperturescorresponding in numher and order to the number of names of can didatesof all parties to be voted for, means for puncturing the sheet or tapethrough said apertures, and a slide for concealing the punctures, as andfor the purpose specified.

2. In a voting machine or register, a strip or tape, means substantiallyas shown and described for moving the same, punch bars between which thestrip or tape passes, located beneath a dial adapted to bear the namesof candidates to be balloted for, said punch bars being provided withapertures corresponding in order and number to the names of the saidcandidates, and a concealing slide having movement over the punch bars,as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a voting register or machine, the combination, with a movable tapeor strip, and punch bars between which the tape passes, said punch barsbeing located adjacent to a dial adapted to contain the names ofcandidates to be balloted for, the punch bars being provided withapertures corresponding in number and arrangement to the names visibleon the dial, of a concealing slide having apertures to correspond to theapertures in the punch bars, and a mechanism substantially as shown anddescribed, for carrying the solid portion of the concealing slide overthe apertures in the punch bars, said slide being spring-controlled indirection of its reverse movement, as and for the purpose specified 4:.In a voting machine or register, the combination, with a casing havingan aperture produced in one face, one wall of said aperture beingprepared to receive the names of candidates to be balloted for, a tapeor strip movably located in the said casing, and punch bars betweenwhich the tapes pass, located beneath said opening and provided withapertures correspondingin number and arrangement to the names of thecandidates to be balloted for, of a spring-controlled concealing slidehaving apertures capable of registering with those in the punch bars, akey whereby the slide is given end movement against the tension of itsspring, and a trip device adapted to operate said slide and capable ofbeing operated from the exterior of the box, as and for the purposespecified.

5. In a voting register or machine, the combination, with a box orcasing, a distributing and a receiving roller located therein, a stripor tape attached to both rollers, passing from one to the other, thecasing being provided with an opening above the tape, and punch barslocated within the casing and between which the tape passes, the saidpunch bars being provided with a predetermined number of apertures, of aconcealing slide apertured to register with the apertures in the punchbar, said slide being spring-controlled, a key operated from theexterior of the box, adapted to force the slide in one direction, adriving mechanism connected with one of the rollers, and a slideoperated from the exterior of the casing,adapted to simultaneouslyoperate the operative mechanism of the roller and return the key of theconcealing slide to its normal position, as and for the purpose setforth.

6. In a voting register or machine, the combination, with a box orcasing, a distributing and a receiving roller located therein, a stripor tape attached to both rollers, passing from one to the other, thecasing being provided with an opening above the tape, and punch barslocated within the casing and between which the tape passes, the saidpunch bars being provided with apredetermined number of apertures, of aconcealing slide apertured to register with the apertures in the punchbar, the said slide being spring controlled, a key operated from theexterior of the box, adapted to force the slide in one direction, adriving mechanism connected with one of the rollers, a slide operatedfrom the exterior of the casing, adapted to simultaneously operate theoperative mechanism of the roller and return the key of the concealingslide to its normal position, a spring controlled hammer plate operatedby the key and the slide, and an alarm device operated from the saidharnmer plate, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a voting registerormachine, the combination, with a box or casing,adistributing and a receiving roller located therein, a strip or tapeattached to both rollers, passing from one to the other, the casingbeing provided with an opening above the tape, and punch bars locatedwithin the casing and between which the tape passes, the said punch barsbeing provided with a predetermined number of apertures, of a concealingslide apertured to register with the apertures in the punch bar, saidslide being springcontrolled, a key operated from the exterior of thebox, adapted to force the slide in one direction, a driving mechanismconnected with one of the rollers, a slide operated from the exterior ofthe easing, adapted to simultaneously operate the operative mechanism otthe roller and return the key of the concealing slide to its normalposition, a springcontrolled hammer plate operated by the key and theslide, an alarm device operated from the said hammer plate, a cover, onesection of which is capable of being opened to disclose a receivingroller, a locking device carried by the body and adapted for engagementwith the cover, and a trip connection between the actuating mechanism ofthe roller and the locking mechanism, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a voting machine or register, the comlocated therein, andreceiving rollers likewise journaled in the casing but in separatecompartments, sheets or tapes in duplicate attached to the distributingroller, one sheet being connected with each receiving roller, the coverof the casing being provided with an opening over the sheets, and punchbars between which the sheets pass, secured within the casing andprovided with a predetermined number of apertures, of aspring-controlled concealing slide having movement over the punch bars,a trip mechanism exteriorly operated, adapted for engagement with theconcealing slide, gears carried by the receiving rollers, a rotatingmechanism connected with said gears, a slide exteriorly operated andadapted to operate upon the rotating mechanism and likewise upon thetrip mechanism for the concealing slide, a hinged section of the coverlocated over one of the receiving rollers, a locking device for saidcover substantially as shown and described, and alatch located at oneend of each receiving roller, whereby when said rollers are releasedfrom said latches they may be removed from the casing, as and for thepurpose set forth.

9. In a voting machine or register, the combination, with a casing, adistributing roller located therein, and receiving rollers likewisejournaled in the casing but in separate compartments, sheets or tapes induplicate attached to the distributing roller, one sheet being connectedwith each receiving roller, the cover of the casing being provided withan opening over the sheets, and punch bars between which the sheetspass, secured within the casing and provided with a predetermined numberof apertures, of a spring-controlled concealing slide having movementover the punch bars, a trip mechanism exteriorly op erated, adapted forengagement with the concealing slide, gears carried by the receivingrollers, a rotating mechanism connected with said gears, a slideexteriorly operated, and adapted to operate upon the rotating mechanismand likewise upon the trip mechanism for the concealing slide, a hingedsection of the cover located over one of the receiving rollers, alocking device for said cover substantially as described, a latchlocated at one end of each of the receiving rollers, whereby

